Paying It Forward
The Ideaca Social Responsibility Task Force is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of Canadians by investing in communities. We strive to be strong corporate citizens, and we commit to operating in a way which benefits the regions in which we operate.
Our funding is driven by our Social Responsibilities, with a specific focus on the following identified key focal areas:
- Adopt-a-Family Program
- Canadian Blood Services
- CBC's Amble with Angus – for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank
- Uend: Foundation
- CN Tower Climb – for the United Way
- Habitat for Humanity
- Movember
- Mustard Seed
Adopt-a-Family Program
On an annual basis, Ideaca “adopts” less fortunate families during the Christmas Season. Employees across the organisation volunteer to purchase toys, groceries, clothes and make cash donations for the families.
Canadian Blood Services
Ideaca is part of the Canadian Blood Services’ Partners For Life program, an initiative which encourages organizations to save lives by donating blood, platelets, and plasma. Ideaca has committed to donating 50 units throughout 2009, an ambitious task for a company the size of Ideaca and one which will require frequent, reliable donations from each office across the country. Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose sole mission is to manage the blood and blood products supply for Canadians.
CBC’s Amble with Angus – for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank
The Amble with Angus is an annual 5km fun run in support of the Calgary Food Bank. Athletes from all levels conquer the brisk morning December air. Sponsors from a variety of organisations, including Ideaca, donate their time and resources in putting this run together.
Along with this initiative, Ideaca Calgary embarked on a week-long inter-office challenge to see who could pull together the largest food donation.
The Calgary Food Bank is a crisis facility to feed Calgarians in need. Individuals and families receive hampers containing enough food for approximately one week to a maximum of six hampers per year.
The Calgary Food Bank is able to provide over 200 families with food and resources each day because of the dedication and compassion of volunteers. Last year, more than 4,204 individual and group volunteers gave an amazing 95,812 hours of their time to help the Calgary Food Bank feed the hungry.
Uend
UEnd: (formerly ChristmasFuture) was launched to help inspire and empower North Americans to refocus a portion of their gift giving budget towards strategic and sustainable projects in the developing world - to help end extreme poverty.
CN Tower Climb – for the United Way
Ideaca employees and family get together with the United Way in Toronto to participate in the Annual CN Tower Climb.
The United Way Toronto is constantly working to improve the lives of many by targeting critical social issues affecting the quality of life in Toronto. Their network of over 200 health and social service agencies delivers quality services and programs to every corner of the city to impact employment, health care support, hunger and homesslessness prevention, neighbourhoods, newcomers, people with addictions, people with AIDS/HIV, people with disabilities, women who have been abused, seniors and young children. In 2008, United Way remained focused on three priority areas- strengthening neighbourhoods, creating opportunities for youth and helping to fulfill the potential of newcomers.
Habitat for Humanity
Ideaca is an official partner with Habitat for Humanity Canada, with efforts across all Ideaca offices nationally to raise funds in the name of Habitat and for home-building projects in each region. Ideaca has set a goal to have at least one build day in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver respectively. Specifically, our goal is to raise $5000 in Toronto, Calgary/Edmonton and Vancouver for a total of $15,000. Ideaca is placing a concerted effort in each office to run events and initiatives raising money to meet this goal and participate in builds across the country in September 2009. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national organization that, through its local affiliates, improves the lives of needy families in our neighbourhoods. With the help of volunteers and corporate partnerships, it builds homes to be owned by families that otherwise would not have the means to own a home.
Movember – for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada
Movember is an annual month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. Every year, Canadians get together in teams to grow their ugliest moustaches.
Men lack awareness about the very real health issues they face. The aim of Movember is to change this attitude. Make men’s health fun by putting the moustache back on the face of Canadian men and raising funds for prostate cancer.
Every year around 24,700 Canadian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 4,300 die of the disease, making it the number one cancer threat to Canadian men.
The Mustard Seed
Ideaca has committed to volunteer regularly throughout 2009 with The Mustard Seed in Calgary. The Mustard Seed is a humanitarian organization that has been caring for Calgary’s homeless population for more than two decades. Every two weeks employees from Ideaca walk to the Center Street location of The Mustard Seed and gladly serve lunch to both guests (the individuals using the services) and staff. The Center Street location equips guests through innovative education and employment training programs, personalized support and mentoring, health and wellness services, arts and recreation programs, and transitional housing.